Lectures on clairmativeness, or, Human magnetism : with an appendix / by Gibson Smith.

  • Smith, Gibson.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Lectures on clairmativeness, or, Human magnetism : with an appendix / by Gibson Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    always been shut;—let us open the organ of vision, and it opens to him a world of objects and sights. The sensation is carried by the nerve to the brain : here is a cause producing an effect, and that effect produces just mind enough to make him conscious that he sees. Again. Throw open the organ of the ear, and the same effect is produced on the brain. Both of these effects produce or form mind , and this is the medium by which he receives all the mind that he as yet possesses—through the opening of these two doors. Open two more, i. e., taste and smell; and the same effect is produced which causes mind. He is then aware of sight, hearing, taste and smell. With these four senses he now possesses, he is still unconscious of all susceptibility. Any infliction can be made on the body without sub- jecting him to the least suffering,—he will experience no pain or sensation. He is destitute of the sense of touch, which produces that part of mind,—he never experienced it. Now just open the door of touch, and set that sense in operation—clear away all obstruction be- tween that sense and the brain, and he is suddenly conscious of all susceptibility. All these organs are now set at work : the evidence of these organs is carried to the sensorium of the brain: there it is di- gested,—the digestion produces the mind—the mind the intellect, the judgment and the understanding. I am aware that these views, concerning the origin or formation of mind, will subject me to the charge of materialism ; but such a con- clusion would be wholly premature, since it will be shown in the pro- per place, that mind itself is not a production of the gross materials of which our bodies are formed ; and that it is dependent upon the physi- cal system only for its formation in the brain of man. The mind is an immaterial, imponderable substance, and in no wise dependant upon matter for its existence. It is painful to see with what jealousy a certain class of religionists look upon every new development of science, fearful that religion, or, at least, that which they have erroneously called religion, will thereby be endangered. Such men, however strenuously they may advocate Christianity, are the greatest sceptics in community. Suppose it were proved beyond a doubt, that the mind of man was not an immaterial or immortal principle,—ought this, if I am a christian, to overthrow my faith in a future state of immortal existence? Is not Christ's re- surrection certain proof of life beyond the grave ? Is not the voice of Revelation— the dead shall be raised incorruptible—this mortal shall put on immortality, sufficient to fortify our minds and give us a well grounded hope of future existence? This is the only sure hope for the christian:—the foundation of all hope is the resurrection of our